I am an experienced supplier of pens, pencils, notebook paper, copy paper and other office supplies. I know that a lot of businesses like to have office supplies with their company’s name and/or logo on them. If I were to start offering this service, would there be a market for selling promotional items wholesale?

Selling promotional items is a profitable business today. Virtually any item can be turned into an advertising avenue for a business: pens, pencils, totes, key chains, calendars, T-shirts, notepads, mugs and even leather goods.

1. Register your business at Business.gov - Official Business Link to the U.S. Government and at your local government administrative office.
2. Since these items are easily attainable in bulk and businesses usually want to buy them in large numbers, wholesaling promotional products is a great route to take.
3. In order to sell promotional items, you must first supply yourself with the items you will print promotional material on. If you already have relationships with reliable suppliers, that’s great. If not, go to a good wholesale directory to find reliable suppliers.
4. As with any business, you must set a business plan in place. Decide on prices of merchandise and goals for profit margins. Are you going to be a specialty promotional outlet, e.g. only supplying office promotional items, or an all-around promotional items supplier? You must also hire employees to do graphic design, printing, shipping and customer service.
5. Set up a website and advertise your business. Giving away your own promotional materials will remind potential clients of your services.
6. The key to success will be to attract local businesses; they will be more likely to respond at first. When you have an established set of clients, you can then begin to seek out larger clients.

It would also be helpful to create both an online and hard copy catalogue of products you offer that prospective clients can look through.

Is there a resource available that will help me get my promotional wholesale business up and running? I would like advice as I take the steps above.

I would strongly suggest registering with the Advertising Specialty Institute: Promo Products | Business Opportunities | Home-Based Businesses | Ad Specialties.

1. It has tips on how to grow your business, increase sales and learn about the industry.
2. It provides links to reliable suppliers.
3. It offers support through its presence at trade shows, training and a support center.
4. ASI provides every resource to help you start and grow your business.

ya that's really good..these days companies are providing promotional items to their employees like notepad,pen,markers etc.so i think you can have contact with those companies.